The English Mastiff is a giant dog breed that is known to be a kid-friendly, relaxed companion. In addition to their family-friendly attitude, they are known for their courage. Here are a few more facts about English Mastiffs:

1. English Mastiffs are massive.
2. Their ancestors were warriors.
3. English Mastiffs were rare in the US.
4. They will drool.
5. English Mastiffs can be gassy.
6. They tend to snore.
7. The world’s largest dog was an English Mastiff.
8. English Mastiffs tend to have extended puppyhoods.
9. Training is essential for English Mastiffs.
10. English Mastiffs are not high-energy dogs.
11. They have short coats with minimal grooming needs.
12. English Mastiffs perform well in a variety of jobs.

1. English Mastiffs Are Massive

Known as one of the largest dog breeds in the world, fully grown English Mastiffs weigh in at an astonishing 220 pounds or more. When people unfamiliar with the breed encounter them for the first time, they are often intimidated by their size and deep bark.

However, don’t judge a book by its cover – as long as they have been properly socialized, English Mastiffs are actually well-mannered dogs who will only leap into action if their family is threatened.

2. Their Ancestors Were Warriors

The Molosser, from which English Mastiff and other Mastiff breeds descended, were used by civilizations during wartime quite frequently. Coming to fame in ancient Rome alongside gladiators, ancient Mastiffs would fight in arenas for entertainment.

They eventually took on the reputation of being a loyal, intelligent guard dog for Roman officers and aristocracy. Appearing in writings from Aristotle to Virgil and more, they were known for their bravery, size, and as a symbol of power. As a matter of fact, these ancient Mastiffs were rumored to be Julius Caesar’s favorite breed.

They would later be trained to become hunting dogs. Despite this ferocious ancestry, English Mastiffs are modernly known as a subdued, chill dog rather than a warrior. However, that doesn’t mean they won’t hesitate to guard their family against real dangers.

3. English Mastiffs Were Rare in the US

For the longest time, most English Mastiffs existed in the United Kingdom, which made them a rare breed in the United States and other areas. Around World War I, there were only 24 Mastiffs registered in the United States.

In 1918, an English Mastiff named Beowulf was registered with the American Kennel Club after being bred in Canada. This jump-started the breed’s presence in American life. Now, the English Mastiff is the American Kennel Club’s 29th most popular breed.

4. They Will Drool

All dogs drool at one time or another. There are many reasons why dogs drool, and some dog breeds just drool more than others. The English Mastiff is a natural drooler. Their large, droopy jowls have a tendency to leak, especially after drinking water. It’s smart to keep some paper towels or a drool cloth nearby for an easy wipe-down.

English Mastiffs may be prone to drooling more than some other dog breeds, but you don’t have to be concerned. This is normal for them. Just be prepared for drool in your life and don’t be afraid of having it get on you or your clothes. A handy drool cloth is helpful, but part of loving an English Mastiff is accepting them wholeheartedly, drool included.

5. English Mastiffs Can Be Gassy

English Mastiffs also have a reputation for being gassier than other breeds. This can be controlled a little bit by moderating what they eat and avoiding giving them rich human foods that often make their gas worse. If you’re worried about their digestive system, talk to your veterinarian. They might be able to advise a different type of dog food that your English Mastiff can digest more easily!

6. They Tend to Snore

If you’re asking yourself, “Why does my dog snore?”, it might just be their breed. This breed is known to be prone to snoring. And, thanks to their size, English Mastiffs are likely to be loud snorers. So, if they’ll be sleeping in the same room, you may need some earplugs if you don’t sleep well with background noise.

7. The World’s Largest Dog Was An English Mastiff

An English Mastiff named Zorba set the Guinness World Record for the world’s largest dog in November of 1989. At age 8, he was 35 inches tall at the shoulder and 8 feet and 3 inches long from the tip of his nose to the end of his tail. This not only won him the largest dog record, but also made him the world’s longest dog!

Another cool fact about Zorba is that he actually beat his own record. He broke the record in September of 1987 and then officially broke it again in November 1989. He weighed 338 pounds. Unfortunately, this was due to overfeeding while Zorba stayed with one of his owner’s relatives for a time. Once Zorba was back home with his owner, he returned to his ideal weight. Zorba lived with his owner Chris in the United Kingdom.

8. English Mastiffs Tend to Have Extended Puppyhoods

Even though English Mastiffs grow pretty fast, they don’t actually reach their full maturity until they’re about three years old. Puppies finish growing at different rates, and larger breeds generally take a bit longer to finish growing and developing their bones and joints.

As they’re growing, puppies are pretty susceptible to injuries to their joints, especially large breeds, so it’s important to make sure they aren’t exercising or playing too hard. Let them play naturally, but try to avoid any exercise that involves a lot of jumping or other stressful activities. In general, you want to keep activities low-impact until puppies finish growing to avoid damage to developing bones and joints. Your vet will be able to help you determine when your puppy is done growing and clear them for higher-impact activities.

9. Training Is Essential For English Mastiffs

Although English Mastiffs are intelligent dogs that are usually eager to please, they can be stubborn at times. If your dog is confused or scared for any reason, it might become impossible to get them to do anything, even things they usually like doing.

Because of this, it’s best to keep their training sessions short and sweet but more frequent. Sometimes this type of training is more effective for some breeds and can help keep your dog engaged during training sessions. Keeping training sessions short keeps your dog from burning out, and more frequent training keeps things fresh in their mind. You should also ensure that training is fun because English Mastiffs will lose interest quickly.

10. English Mastiffs Are Not High-Energy Dogs

Even though English Mastiffs are quite large, they actually don’t need very strenuous exercise. Large breeds like English Mastiffs are often known as couch potato dogs because they enjoy lounging around. However, this breed still does need some physical activity and will need some moderate exercise.

There are plenty of ways to exercise with your dog, like taking them on walks or playing games with them. Even these low-impact exercises are probably going to give your dog enough exercise. As a brachycephalic dog breed, they are prone to overheating, so working in short bursts and keeping things moderate also helps keep them active without overheating. They also enjoy fun activities, such as scent games, where they get to use their nose!

11. They Have Short Coats With Minimal Grooming Needs

All dogs need to be groomed to some extent. But due to their short and dense coats, English Mastiffs don’t typically need to be brushed daily. However, make sure you’re brushing them at least a few times a week. They will also experience heavy shedding about once or twice a year as seasons change. When this occurs, you will need to brush them much more frequently to remove the excess hair.

12. English Mastiffs Perform Well in a Variety of Jobs

These dogs are highly intelligent and have been used in a variety of jobs. Some of these are jobs your dog can do at home, or these can be official jobs outside the home. They also have been trained to participate in activities like pulling carts and tracking. English Mastiffs have also been valuable when it comes to search-and-rescue missions.

Due to their size, people might not think of this breed as being a good therapy dog. However, because of their gentle nature, English Mastiffs can be quite comforting and have been wonderful therapy dogs. This is just one of the ways English Mastiffs are working dogs. This breed has even been seen on screen in movies like Marmaduke. Mastiffs are quick learners and gentle, so they make excellent dog actors.

Is an English Mastiff Puppy Right For You?

These are only a few facts about English Mastiffs. If you think that they are a great fit for your lifestyle, you can learn more about them and check out the available English Mastiff puppies. Who knows? You could end up finding the perfect addition to your family and your new best friend!